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Thread: New Wick High School, Primary Schools, Community Facilities

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  1. #1
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    Default New Wick High School, Primary Schools, Community Facilities

    Does anyone know what's happening about the new high school in wick, is it still going ahead or has it been put on hold or something

  2. #2
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    Here is the latest newsletter on the project confirming build to start in Autumn next year with completion by summer 2015.
    3 new schools will proceed along with new community facilities - swimming pool and library. Many other features will be included one of the major ones being a cover street joining the high school, primary school and the community facilities. This will take account of the weather we get n the north of Scotland. Wick is likely to be one of very few towns with all new schools in Scotland.

    The Wick Project
    The Wick Project includes the Wick Campus
    (incorporating the ‘South of the River’ Primary
    School, High School and East Caithness
    Community Facilities) on the Wick
    High/Pulteneytown Primary School site, and the
    new ‘North of the River’ Primary School to be built
    on the current North Primary School site.
    This Newsletter brings everybody up to date with
    progress on the whole project in Wick.


    The Wick Campus
    As part of the requirements of Scottish Government
    funding, the Council is working in partnership with
    Hub North Scotland Ltd (the Hub -
    www.hubnorthscotland.co.uk) to complete the
    remaining design and construction of the new
    facilities. This process also involves the Scottish
    Futures Trust www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk acting
    on the Scottish Government’s behalf. More
    information on these organisations can be found by
    clicking on the links.
    hub North Scotland – local involvement
    hub North Scotland are delighted to be partnering
    Highland Council in this exciting new Schools
    Projects.


    In this respect, members of the hub North Team
    plan to visit Wick on the 12th and 13th November to
    meet with local members of the Supply Chain and
    the Local Community. We will provide times and
    location prior to our visit but meantime if you would
    like further information please contact Jill Adie on
    07875388898 or by email
    jill.adie@hubnorthscotland.onmicrosoft.com


    The Hub/Council Process
    The Council and the Hub have a process to follow.
    Detailed below is this process, with an approximate
    timeline:
    New Project Request (NPR) – submitted by
    Council to Hub on 2 July 2012
    NPR response – Hub accepted NPR in Aug 2012
    Stage 1 – Hub have to respond to Council
    accepting that the project can be delivered within
    Affordability Caps set by the Council. This is
    expected in October. The Scottish Futures Trust
    (SFT) and then the Council have to assess, and
    then decide on moving to the next Stage.
    (continued in next column)


    Stage 2 – Hub then develop the design, and
    negotiate a detailed contract with the Council.
    Formal submission of this Stage from Hub is
    expected midsummer 2013. Again both the SFT
    and the Council have to assess the proposal, and
    agree to sign the contract. This period may take up
    to 3 months.


    Construction – begins in Autumn 2013, with
    schools scheduled to become operational in August
    2015.


    The above at this stage involves only the High
    School and Community facilities within the Campus.
    The new ‘South of the River’ Primary
    part of the Campus will follow the same process,
    and will have ‘caught up’ as far as time is
    concerned with negotiations and contract sign by
    midsummer, so that the whole campus build starts
    at the same time.


    Stakeholder Group
    This is currently being reformed to include the
    Primary School Stakeholders. A meeting has not
    yet been arranged – principally because there has
    been no real development of the plans for the
    campus in recent weeks.


    In particular, the floor plans for the High School
    and Community Facilities have not changed since
    issued in Newsletter No. 1.


    Wick Campus – Primary School
    The Brief has been agreed, with the
    accommodation as follows:
     13 Classrooms, each with built in store and
    cloakroom
     Expressive Arts room and store
     Break out Space
     2 Nursery Rooms, with kitchen, cloakrooms,
    toilets and storage
     2 Learning Support Rooms
     Enhanced Provision Area for children with
    specific needs
     Games Hall – 2 badminton Court size, with
    changing and stores
     Offices – Administration, Head Teacher and
    Depute, Staff Work Base (continued on next
    page)

    More information can be found on the Wick High School web site at http://www.wickhighschool.org/index....-school-build5
    Last edited by Bill Fernie; 29-Sep-12 at 08:52.

  3. #3

    Default

    Will the new high school have a leaky roof to remind us of the old one? I hope so.

    Seriously though, well done Bill for getting this fantastic new development for the town. It's a great achievement. Ok, it will be when it's finally finished.
    Last edited by secrets in symmetry; 30-Sep-12 at 13:47. Reason: rewordie

  4. #4
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    Default

    Thankyou Bill appreciate the info

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    A report to The Adult and Children's Services Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 7th Novermber 2012 will show progress is being maintained to deliver the new schools.

    5.0 SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL ESTATE REVIEW (SSER)
    5.1 Wick - the Stage 1 submission from Hub North Scotland Limited (Hubco) is currently being considered by officials. The Stage 1 submission provides the indicative project costs required to meet the Highland Council design requirements. It is proposed that an update report is brought to the Finance, Housing & Resources Committee on the 28th November. The accommodation schedule for the new Primary School south of the River Wick has been agreed with stakeholders and the New Project Request document (containing details of the project specification and related Affordability Caps will be brought to this Committee in January 2013.) The education brief and accommodation schedule for the new Primary School north of the River Wick is currently being progressed in consultation with local stakeholders and should be completed by the end of the calendar year. At this stage all 3 new schools and the new community facilities remain on track to open in August 2015.

    The full papers for the committee can be found at
    http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcounc...-07-acs-ag.htm

  6. #6

    Default Wick high school progress

    Whats the status with the project. I seem to remember planning permission submittal proposed for Feb / March. I cant find anything on HUBCO's website nor current plans on Wick High School or Highland Councils websites. I cant believe how quiet this project seems to be in the public domain. £50millon being spent and barely a squeek ?
    I kent his faither

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Fernie View Post
    Here is the latest newsletter on the project confirming build to start in Autumn next year with completion by summer 2015.
    Yesterday's headline:

    "Wick Campus Delay Until 2017"

    What's the reasons now ?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by onespace View Post
    Yesterday's headline:

    "Wick Campus Delay Until 2017"

    What's the reasons now ?
    Well apart from rumours of it being made on the cheap and with the resulting structural failure issues due to the cost cutting, these issues aside, it's a contractual secret apparently so sounds like they are trying to botch over any problems and do a runner before everyone who already knows, finds out.....They obviously don't realise this is Wick at its best, everyone knows everything about everything and everyone else before they do

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shaggy View Post
    Well apart from rumours of it being made on the cheap and with the resulting structural failure issues due to the cost cutting, these issues aside, it's a contractual secret apparently so sounds like they are trying to botch over any problems and do a runner before everyone who already knows, finds out.....They obviously don't realise this is Wick at its best, everyone knows everything about everything and everyone else before they do
    This being Wick its also a case of the rumours may not be true Ive seen someone supposedly dead walk pass me in the street.

  10. #10
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    That it's years late isn't a rumour, that's a stark fact you can see by walking past it. It's amazing how companies like Morrisons can build a building for a commercial customer on time and on budget (or suffer the penalties) but as soon as they get a public sector job you'd think it was the first time human kind had set stone upon stone. They know full well they can bid cheap to get the work (and having a few connections helps to!) then milk the public purse for all that it can because the Council representatives they report to are feckless and toothless. They must have some fun running rings around the Council Contracts people - getting a clause which says that they can't publicise the reasons for delay is a bobby dazzler. A tenner says it closes for repairs within 6 months of opening.....whenever that'll be.

  11. #11

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    Well if it closes am sure they will fix it do not worry about it or take a hernia over it calm down could be worse we could have no schools at all jeez lift Urr lip up

  12. #12

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    Things are really starting to take shape in the New School now. For up to date photos and information on the school go see for yourself

    https://wickhighschool.org/

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alice in Blunderland View Post
    Things are really starting to take shape - see https://wickhighschool.org/

    Can't help but notice that some of the captions for the August 2015 photos state " Our new school takes shape".

    It's not really satisfactory progress no matter how folk spin it. And the delays etc. can't all be laid at Councillors feet, HC employees who have responsibility for this project must be held accountable.

  14. #14

    Default

    I agree its not satisfactory. None of the shall we say the cock ups for want of a better word are satisfactory. None of the delays, the mistakes, the lack of consultation, the list is endless is satisfactory. Some of the decision making can be questioned and the complete lack of information as to why the school is not yet open and what were the reasons is wholly unsatisfactory however.... As some will see IM trying to stay positive. Im trying to look on the bright side WHY because at the end of the day the children and the staff are still getting a new school with much better facilities much better equipment and in no way even as it stands at present is it anywhere near the dilapidated state the old school is now in.
    There's a long list of who should take responsibility for this monumental goof of a project but they wont. Most of them are teflon coated and absolutely nothing is going to stick to them I aint no psychic but that's a given from this and other projects which have gone before. From the Scottish government right down to there are lessons to be learned from this however we always seem to hear that phrase lessons will be learned and they never are.
    The phrase couldn't organise a pee up in a brewery often comes to mind however its nowhere near as bad as that .....yet.
    Having spoken to staff they are on the whole pleased with the facilities. They are happy with the level of equipment being delivered and at the end of the day they are the main users of this building not all of us sitting on the sidelines.

  15. #15

    Default

    It's a HERE WE GO AGAIN with another council contract ,as in the past we will do in the future, isn't it about time that someone (or more) are held to account . Time after time we see the org FULL for the lies spouted by the folk that have put themselves on pedestals ,reaped the rewards and delivered nothing or even less an nothing . Failure should lead to the job center as it does in the real world.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alice in Blunderland View Post
    Things are really starting to take shape in the New School now.
    I would certainly hope so. After being 3 years late, and counting, we'd expect a bit more than 'shape'.

    I also hear of some parents looking to apply for their bairns to go to Thurso High next year on the assumption/expectation of endless disruption to this new one once the doors finally open (or jam shut).

  17. #17

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    Given that in its current state the new high school is a damn sight better than what the kids are currently being taught in I welcome the new High School when it opens. I accept there's been delays and problems however lets keep things positive having had a walk around the building there are some excellent rooms already finished the staff and the kids cant wait to get moved. As for kids parents applying for Thurso High I heard there were tartan pigs flying around Caithness but then thats just a little story I made up for this keyboard as I would believe yours is also.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by Alice in Blunderland View Post
    there's been delays and problems
    You don't say!

    It's a school (very simple building, the type of which is built on a regular basis and have been for decades) on a piece of greenfield land (so no nasty surprises).

    So why more than 3 years late ? We're not allowed to know because the feckless councillors trying to manage this are made a fool out of by cleverer contractors out to make a buck from public money.

    We'll no doubt get the usual "we will learn lessons from this" tripe trotted out, as the fundamental lesson is never learned.....which is don't let inexperienced incompetent councillors anywhere near things they know nothing about.

    Would you let bill fernie manage your house extension? No. So why let them near something of this nature ? They are supposed to be there to represent the people and protect them from this sort of farce, not be part of the cause of the problem.

    And as for the Thurso High story, that came from a discussion while I was getting my tickets for the dance returned.

    You may be happy living in a blunder land but others expect professionalism.

  19. #19

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    Quote Originally Posted by onespace View Post
    You don't say!

    And as for the Thurso High story, that came from a discussion while I was getting my tickets for the dance returned.
    Really. Im intrigued on this one.

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by onespace View Post

    And as for the Thurso High story, that came from a discussion while I was getting my tickets for the dance returned.

    .
    I meant to ask was it a case of not only were they handing you back your ticket saying sorry the dance cant go ahead they were telling you that folk were telling them they are looking at putting their kids to Thurso ?

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